Missile projecting device



Sept. 10, 1940.

H. A. DOUGLAS 2,214,224 MISSILE PROJECTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 7, 1937 2Sheets-Sheet 1 1 26 11 i i 10 a7 3 9 w 24 I f 7 b7 T 4; a! w M a;

.22 I J amy A. 0025 105 [JUVEIJITORI M @iwww WW Sept. 10, 1940. DOUGLAS2,214,224

MISSILE PROJECTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 7, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheer.

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13 Claims.

This invention relates to missile projecting devices, and has for anobject the provision of new and improved devices of this character.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and a part of thisapplication, I have shown, for purposes'of illustration, embodimentswhich my invention may assume, and in the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the missile projecting device,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional of the device, parts of thesame being broken away to better accommodate the view to the sheet,

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary View showthe connecting meansbetween the bow and bow string, parts of the construction being shownsection,

Figure Ls a fragmentary front elevational view of the constructionillustrated in Figure 3,

Figure 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary vertical sectional view of the nowmeans, and the air compressor means carried thereby, the parts beingshown in their normal positions,

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view similar to Figure showing theparts of the mechanism in the position assumed after the bow means havebeen tensicn d and are ready to begin discharging movement,

Figure '7 is an enlarged fragmentary, transverse vertical sectionalview, corresponding substantially to the line "!--'i of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a View similar to Figure '7, corresponding substantially tothe line 88 of Figure 5,

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional View, corresponding substantially tothe line 9-9 of Figure 2,

Figure 10 is a horizontal transverse sectional view, correspondingsubstantially to the line iili'8 of Figure 2, while Figure 11 is afragmentary sectional view similar to a portion of Figure 5, and showinga different embodiment of the barrel structure.

Referring f st to Figures 1 through 10 of the drawings, the inventioncomprises an elongated housing 2:}, preferably constructed of relativelyheavy sheet metal, having a substantially flat forward wallsubstantially parallel side walls end walls 23, and a rear wall 26, allintegrally formed, the end walls 23 at their rear portions being curved,and the side and rear walls, adjacent the opposite ends of the housing29, being contoured to correspond to the curvature of the end walls,merging then with the centralpart of the housing 28, which for anappreciable distance, is substantially square in cross-section (seeFigures 2 and 10). The housing it is preferably cut out from a singlepiece of sheet metal, bent to shape, and the meeting edges weldedtogether, the manner of assembly being hereinafter more particularlydescribed.

Adjacent each end of the housingfit the front wall H is provided with anembossment 25 extending inwardly from the end of the housing centrallyalongthe front wall, and formed semicircular in cross-section, providingan abutment wall 26 at its inner end, and communicating with an aperture2'! in the adjacent end wall 23, and

adjacent the abutment wall 26, the front wall it is formed with aninwardly bent loop 28. The embossment 25, the abutment wall 26, theaperture 2'12, and the loop 28, form seating means for the detachableaccommodation of one end 225 of a bow member 33, two of the bow members3@ being employed, one at each end of the housing 2%], as shown in thedrawings. Each bow member 30 is preferably made up of a curved rod likelength of resilient steel, reversely turned at its outer end, as at 3!,and each turned end M is provided with a sheet metal cap 32 snuglyfitting thereover, and each cap 32 is grooved, as at 33, for thereception of a looped connector 3 3. The connector 3 5 is preferably ofsheet metal, formed substantially channel-shaped in cross-section, openat one side, and providing an inner curved wall 35 for the reception ofa looped portion 3 of a bow string 3'5, the looped portion 38 preferablybeing permanently secured to the connector 34 by crimping the sheetmetal thereof onto thestring, as at 38.

Extending through the front wall 2i and rear 1 wall 24 of the housing20, is a tubular means 39,

oval in cross-section, with the major axis thereof lying at right anglesto the long axis of the housing 23 having a portion it projectingforwardly ofthe housing 23 a substantial distance, and having a portionti projecting rearwardly of the housing 2i), and a substantial distancerearwardtransversely extending spaced peripheral embossments 48 and Al,the forward embossment 46 being accommodated in a seat 98 surrounding anaperture in the front wall 2 l, while the rear embossment i? is disposedinwardly of the rear wall 24, as best shown in Figures 5 and 6.

A magazine for accommodating a plurality of missiles is employed inconnection with the invention, and comprises an elongated member 9,channel-shaped in cross-section, disposed longitudinally of the housing29, with its open side toward the inner surface of the front wall 2|,and its edges provided with prongs extending through apertures in thefront wall 2|, the prongs 50 being upset to hold the channel-shapedmember 59 in position. The outer end of the nember 49 is closed by aflange 5i forming part of a slide 52, slidably supported in apertures inthe side walls 22, and the slide has an opening 53 adapted in oneposition to register with an opening 54 in the front wall 2|, which isaligned with the open side of the magazine member 49, a spring beingfixed to one of the side walls 22, and normally positioning the slide 52so that the openings 53 and '54 are out of register. At its inner endthe magazine member 49 is reduced as at 59, the reduced portion beingaccommodated in notches 51 of the complemental sections 62, and inwardlyof the reduced portion the magazine member 49 is provided with an ovalcup-shaped section 58, snugly fitting the inner Walls of thecomplemental sections 42, a passageway 59 being provided for passage ofthe missiles into the oval-shaped section 58. The ovalshaped section 58is provided with a circular aperture 69, notched, as at 5|, throughwhich extends one end of a barrel member 82, having a projectiondisposed in the notch 6| to prevent rotation of the barrel member 82,the inner end of the barrel member 62 being provided with a flange, andbetween the flange and the rear face of the oval-shaped section 58 asuitable washer is interposed. The barrel member 62 also extends througha support 63, oval-shaped to'fit within the groove 64 formed by thefront embossment 96, and shaped to close the open mouth or theoval-shaped section 58, as at 65. The barrel member 52 is furtherprovided with an aperture 63 aligned with the magazine member 49, toadmit a spherical missile 81 to the barrel member 62. The forward end ofthe barrel member 62 extends centrally through, and is sup ported by,the front cap 43, and is provided with a flange which holds the cap 43in position.

Cooperating with the magazine means 49 is a shuttle mechanism 68,comprising a tubular section 99 of a diameter to slidably fit into therear end of the barrel member 62, the front portion of the tubularsection having an aperture 9 for a purpose hereinafter referred to. Therear end of the tubular section is flanged; as at H, to interconnectwith the flange 12 of a flared section 13, a stop 14 of metal beinginterposed between the flange H and an abutment l5v formed on thetubular section 69. The flared section '13, beginning at a pointadjacent to the flange H, is flared or tapered horizontally in arearward direction, as best shown in Figure 7, and at its rear end isprovided with a reversely turned inclined flange '16, adapted in oneposition to abut against a bufier 11, preferably of rubber, whichtogether with an oval ring-like support 158 is accommodated in thegroove 79 formed by the rear embossme'nt 41, the shuttle mechanism 68thus formed being supported for reciprocatory movement by the rear endof the barrel member 62, and by the oval ring-like support 18 throughwhich it extends.

Reciprocably mounted in the rear portion M of the tubular means 39 is apiston 80, including a flexible cup-shaped packing means 8!, havingbeveled surfaces 82 adapted in one position to contact the exteriorsurface of the inclined flange 16, the packing means 8i being securedbetween abutments 33 carried by a stem 8 The stem 84 has a pilot member85 projecting therefrom, and of such size as to substantially close theaperture 18 of the tubular section 69 in one position of the mechanism.At its. outer end the stem 84 is provided with a finger-piece 8'5,channel-shaped in cross-section for the reception of the bow string 37,of a width somewhat in excess of the width of the slots 45, along itsforward surface being contoured, as at 8?, to comfortably accommodatethe fingers of a user, and at opposite sides being formed to providedepressed spaced transversely extending run-ways 88 in which the edgesof the tubular means 39 defining the slots 45, are slidablyaccommodated, the run-ways 88 serving to maintain the stem 84 centeredduring reciprocation thereof.

In order to assemble the housing 29 and the tubular means 39, the rearof the housing 20 is initially left open, and after the tubular means 39have had the magazine and related parts assembled therewith, the tubularmeans 39 are pro- J'ected through the opening in the front wall 2|, andthe front embossment 46 thereof disposed in the seat 28, and themagazine fixed in posi tion. The rear margins of the side walls 22 arethen bent to provide angular portions which together form the rear wall24 of the housing 28, the angular portions being notched to accommodatethe tubular means 39, and when so bent, the angular portions aredisposed in the rear of the rear embossment 17, and thus hold thetubular means 39 in position, the meeting edges of the portions formingthe rear wall being welded, or

otherwise secured together, and to the end walls Referring to Figure 11,all of the parts there shown, with a single exception, are identical tothose already described, and will be designated by similar referencecharacters. The difference in construction resides in the provision of adepression 89 which is formed in the rear end of the barrel member 62,and serves the purpose of preventing a missile accidentally rolling fromthe barrel member 62.

In use the magazine member 49 is first filled with a plurality ofmissiles 67. This may be accomplished by moving the slide 52 so as tobring the openings 53 and 54 in alignment, after which the missiles 61may pass into the magazine, the spring 55 moving the slide 52, whenreleased, to dispose the apertures 53 and 54 out of alignment and closethe magazine. The housing 28, forming part of the bow means, may then begrasped by one hand of the user, while the other hand grasps thefinger-piece 86, in a manner familiar to archers. The finger-piece 86may then be drawn rearwardly, sliding in the slots 45 of the tubularmeans 39, and causing rearward movement of the piston 80. Such movementof the piston lowers the pressure within the tubular means 39, and thislowered pressure creates suction sufficient to draw the shuttlemechanism 68 rearwardly, retracting the tubular section 69 sufficientlyto permit a missile 61 to pass into the barrel member 62; also duringthis rearward movement of the piston the pilot member is withdrawn fromthe aperture 10, and the flared section 13 is positioned rearwardly ofthe bulfer Tl, rearward movement of the shuttle mechanism being limitedby the stop '14 coming into engagement with the ring-like member 78.

During the rearward movement of the piston, and of the bow string 3'2,the bow members 3'8 are placed under tension, and when the fingerpiece86 is released, the piston 80 is driven inwardly with great force,compressing the air within the tubular means 39, and this air enteringthe flared section '53 has its velocity increased in the manner of aVenturi tube, and concurrently the flared section it moves forwardly tobring the flange it into abutment with the bufier Ti, this forwardmovement being also communicated to the tubular section 59, which startsthe missile ti on its way through the barrel member 62, the air :at highvelocity and pressure passing through theaperture ill, and projectingthe missile 6'! "from the barrel menrber 82 with great force.Immediately following projection of the missile, and before the end ofthe stroke of the piston 33, the pilot member 25 enters the aperture"it! in the tubular section 69, blocking passage of air therethrough,and thus builds up a back pressure which cushions the impact of thepiston 88 at the end of its stroke. After the missile has'beendischarged the operations described may be repeated so long as there aremissiles 6'5 in the magazine member 19, the tubular section 69 upondischarge of the missile having been repositioned to control the passageof the missiles to the barrel member 62.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have accomplishedat least the principal object of my invention, and it also will beapparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments hereindescribed may be variously changed and modified, without departing fromthe spirit of the invention, and that the invention is cap-able of usesand has advantages not herein specifically described; hence it will beappreciated that the herein disclosed embodiments are illustrative only,and that my invention is not limited thereto.

Iclaim:

l. A bow means actuated pneumatic missileprojector, comprising: bowmeans, including a bow and a bow string operatively connected; aircompressor means carried by said bow, and connected to said how string,whereby said bow means when released from tensioned position operatessaid air compressor means; supporting means, adapted to support amissile in position to be projected; shuttle means movable in onedirection to admit a missile to said projector and movable in a reversedirection to lodge said missile in proper position on said supportingmeans to be projected; said projector having a passage leading from saidair compressor means to in rear of a missile so supported, wherebyoperation of said air compressor means by said bow means deliverscompressed air in rear of said missile to project said missile, saidshuttle means being traversed by said air, and constructed and arrangedto provide a Venturi eiiect to augment the velocity of air causingprojection of said missile; and means for generating back pressurewithin said projector to cushion the impact of said compressor meansfollowing delivery of its missile projecting energy to said missile.

2. A bow-means actuated pneumatic missileprojector, comprising: :bowmeans, including a bow and a bow string operatively connected; aircompressor means carried by said bow, and connected to said how string,whereby said bow means when released from tensioned position opcratessaid air compressor means; tubular supporting means, adapted to supporta missile and through which said missile may be projected; magazinemechanism for accommodating a plurality of missiles, and including ahousing extending substantially parallel with the long axis of said bowand through which said missiles move by gravity toward said tubularsupporting means; and shuttle means movable in one direction to admit amissile from said magazine to said supporting means, and movable in areverse direction to lodge said missile in proper position with respectto said supporting means to be projected;

said projector having a passage leading from said air compressor meansto in rear of a missile so supported, whereby operation of said aircompressor means by said bow means delivers compressed air in rear ofsaid missile to'project said missile.

3. A bow means actuated pneumatic missileprojector, comprising: bowmeans, including a bow and a bow string operatively connected, aircompressor means carried by said how, and connected to said bow string,whereby said how means when released from tensioned position op-. cratessaid air compressor means; said air compressor means including elongatedtubular means, oval in cross-section, with the major axis thereofdisposed substantially at right angles to the long axis of said bow, andsaid bow including a centrally disposed housing through which saidtubular means extends, said housing and said tubular means havinginterengaging means for securing the parts together, and said tubularmeans having spaced interiorly formed transverse grooves; a magazine;supporting means, adapted to support a missile in position to beprojected; shuttle means, movable in one direction to admit a missile tosaid projector, and movable in an opposite direction to lodge saidmissile in proper position with respect to said supporting means to beprojected therefrom; and mounting means disposed in each of saidtransverse grooves, con structed and arranged to position saidsupporting means, said magazine and said shuttle mechanism incooperative relation; said projector having a passage leading from saidair compressor means to in rear of a missile so supported, wherebyoperation of said air compressor means by said bow means deliverscompressed air in rear of said missile to project said missile.

i. Pneumatic missile projecting means, comprising: tubular means;resilient means; piston means, within said tubular means, manuallymovable in one direction against the action, of said resilient means todraw air inwardly of said tubular means, said piston when released beingquickly urged in the opposite direction by the urging force of saidresilient means, to expel air from said tubular means at considerablevelocity; supporting means, for supporting a missile to be projected; shittle means movable within said tubular means, having an opening throughwhich air is expelled from said tubular means said shuttle means havinga portion adapted, to strike the missile to be projected, to overcomethe inertia of the missile, and being so constructed and arranged thatsaid shuttle means portion strikes the missile shortly after said pistonmeans is released; and means constructed and arranged to close theopeningin said shuttle means before said piston means reaches the end ofits travel, thereby entrapping air in said tubular means and cushioningthe impact of said piston means following delivery of its missileprojecting energy to the missile.

5. Pneumatic missile projecting means, comprising: tubular means;resilient means; piston means within said tubular means, and beingmanually movable in one direction against the action of said resilientmeans to draw air inwardly of said tubular means, said piston whenreleased being quickly urged in the opposite direction by the urgingforce of said resilient means, to expel air from said tubular means atconsiderable velocity; supporting means, for supporting a missile to beprojected; shuttle means movable within said tubular means, having anopening through which air is expelled from said tubular means, saidshuttle means having a portion adapted to strike the missile to beprojected, to overcome the inertia of the missile, and being soconstructed and arranged that said shuttle means strikes the missileshortly after said piston means is released; and rod means, carried byand movable with said piston, of a predetermined length to extend intothe opening in said shuttle means before said piston means reaches theend of its travel, and of a cross-sectional size to closely fit withinthe opening of said shuttle means, thereby entrapping air in saidtubular means and cushioning the impact of said piston means followingdelivery of its missile projecting energy to the missile.

6. A bow means actuated pneumatic missileprojector, comprising: ahousing, having clamping means at opposite ends; a pair of resilientmembers, each carried by respective clamping means in a detachablemanner, said members when assembled with said housing forming a bow; abow string extending from the free end of one member to the free end ofthe other member; a tubular member, secured to said housing, and havingportions extending from opposite sides of said housing; a tubular barrelwithin that portion of said tubular means which extends from one side ofsaid housing; a magazine within said housing, adapted to contain aplurality of missiles to be projected, having a first openingcommunicating with said barrel, and having a second openingcommunicating with a filling opening in the wall of said housing; pistonmeans, movable within that portion of said tubular member extending fromthe opposite side of said housing, having connection with said bowstring whereby tensioning of said bow causes movement of said pistonmeans in one direction to draw air into said tubular member, andreleasing of said bow string causes said piston to rapidly move in theopposite direction to quickly expel air from said tubular member andthrough said barrel; and means, constructed and arranged to provide forpassage of a missile through said first opening in said magazine toposition in said barrel when said piston moves in said one direction,and to close said first opening in said magazine when said piston meansmoves in the opposite direction.

7. Pneumatic missile projecting means, comprising: tubular means;resilient means; piston means, movable within said tubular means,movable in one direction against the action of said resilient means todraw air inwardly of said tubular means, said piston means when free tomove in the opposite direction being urged to move in this oppositedirection by the urging force of said resilient means to expel air fromsaid tubular means at considerable velocity; barrel means, soconstructed and arranged that the expelled air is directed through thechamber of said barrel means; magazine means, adapted to contain aplurality of missiles, having an opening so positioned that a missilefrom said magazine means may pass to the chamber of said barrel means;and movable means, movable within said tubular means, having a portionadapted to control said magazine means opening, said movable means beingso constructed and arranged that when air is drawn inwardly of saidtubular means said movable means is moved by said indrawn air in adirection so that said portion uncovers said magazine means opening andprovides for passage of a missile to said barrel means chamber, and whenair is expelled from said tubular means, said movable means is moved bysaid expelled air in a direction so that said portion closes saidmagazine opening and prevents the passage of missiles to said barrelchamber.

8. Pneumatic missile projecting means, comprising: tubular means;resilient means; piston means, movable within said tubular means,movable in one direction against the action of said resilient means todraw air inwardly of said tubular means, said piston means when free tomove in the opposite direction being urged by the force of saidresilient means to move in this opposite direction to expel air fromsaid tubular means at considerable velocity; barrel means, soconstructed and arranged that the expelled air is directed through thechamber of said barrel means; and shuttle means, movable within saidtubular means under influence of the movement of air within said tubularmeans, and so constructed and arranged that this air passes through anopening within said shuttle means, said shuttle means opening having anenlarged portion directed toward said piston means, and a small portiondirected toward said barrel means chamber, so that the expelled airpasses from said tubular means through said enlarged portion and thenthrough said reduced portion to said barrel means chamber, thus causingthe velocity of the expelled air to be augmented by such passage.

9. Pneumatic missile projecting means, comprising: resilient bow means;air compressor means, connected to said how means in such manner as todraw in air when said bow means is tensioned, and to expel air atconsiderable velocity from said outlet opening when the tensioning forceis released to permit the resiliency of said bow means to operate saidair compressor means; barrel means, so constructed and arranged that theexpelled air passes through the chamber of said barrel means; magazinemeans. adapted to contain a plurality of missiles, having an openingthrough which missiles may pass to the chamber of said barrel means,said magazine means being so constructed and arranged that when said bowmeans is held in predetermined substantially vertical position, missilesmay be fed from said magazine means to the chamber of said barrel meansby gravity.

10. Pneumatic missile projecting means, comprising: resilient bow means;air compressor means, connected to said bow means in such manner as todraw in air when said bow means is tensioned, and to expel air atconsiderable velocity from said outlet opening when the tensioning forceis released to permit the resiliency of said bow means to operate saidair compressor means; barrel means, so. constructed and arranged thatthe expelled air passes through the chamber of said barrel means;magazine means, adapted to contain a plurality of missiles, having anopening through which missiles may pass to the chamber of said barrelmeans, said magazine means being so constructed and arranged that whensaid bow means is held in predetermined substantially vertical position,missiles may be fed from said magazine means to the chamber of saidbarrel means by gravity; and means, constructed and arranged toautomatical- 1y provide for passage of a single missile from saidmagazine means to the chamber of said barrel means when air is drawninto said air compressor means, and to prevent the passage of missilesfrom said magazine means to the chamber of said barrel means when air isexpelled from said air compressor means.

11. Pneumatic missile projecting means, comprising: air compressormeans, including a cylinder, resilient means, and a piston movable inone direction within said cylinder to store energy in said resilientmeans and draw air into said cylinder, and quickly moved in the oppositedirection to expel air from said cylinder when the energy stored in saidresilient means is released; shuttle means movable with respect to saidcylinder, and providing an outlet opening through which air passes whenit is drawn into or expelled from said cylinder; support means, forsupporting a missile in position to be projected; magazine means,adapted to containa plurality of missiles, and including means providingfor passage of a missile to proper position on said support means; saidshuttle means having a portion controlling passage of the missles fromsaid magazine means to said support means, and being so constructed andarranged as to be moved in one direction when air is drawn in throughits opening, movement of said shuttle means in this direction causingmovement of said shuttle means portion to a position wherein it permitsa missile to pass from said magazine means to said support means, andsaid shuttle means being moved in the opposite direction by air expelledthrough its opening, movement of said shuttle means in this oppositedirection causing movement of said shuttle means portion so that itstrikes and moves the positioned missile and substantiallysimultaneously interrupts passage of further missiles to said supportmeans during projection of the positioned missile.

l2. Pneumatic missile projecting means, comprising: air compressormeans, including a cylinder, resilient means, and a piston movable inone direction within said cylinder to store energy in said resilientmeans and draw air into said cylinder, and quickly moved in the oppositedirection to expel air from said cylinder when the energy stored in saidresilient means is released; shuttle means movable with respect to saidcylinder, and providing an outlet opening through which air passes whenit is drawn into or expelled from said cylinder; support means, forsupporting a missile in position to be projected; magazine means,adapted to contain a plurality of missiles, and including meansproviding for passage of a missile to properposition on said supportmeans; said shuttle means having a portion controlling passage of themissiles from said magazine to said support means,

and being so constructed and arranged as to be moved in one directionwhen air is drawn in through its opening, movement of said. shuttlemeans in this direction causing movement of said shuttle means portionto a position wherein it permits a missile to pass from said magazine tosaid support means, and said shuttle means being moved in the oppositedirection by air expelled through its opening, movement of said shuttlemeans in this opposite direction causing said shuttle means portion tostrike and move the positioned missile and substantially simultaneouslyinterrupt passage of further missiles to said support means duringprojection of the positioned missile; and means constructed and arrangedto close the opening in said shuttle means before said piston reachesthe end of its travel in the direction wherein it expels air from saidcylinder, so as to entrap air in said cylinder and cushion the impact ofsaid piston.

13. Pneumatic missile projecting means, comprising: air compressormeans, including a cylinder, resilient means, and a piston movable inone direction within said cylinder to store energy in said resilientmeans and draw air into said cylinder, and quickly moved in the oppositedirection to expel air from said cylinder when thev energy stored insaid resilient means is released; shuttle means movable with respect tosaid cylinder, and providing an outlet opening through which air passeswhen it is drawn into or expelled from said cylinder; support means, forsupporting a missile in position to be projected; magazine means,adapted to contain aplurality of missiles, and including means providingfor passage of a missile to proper position on said support means; saidshuttle means having a por-' tion controlling passage of the missilesfrom said magazine to said support means, and being so constructed andarranged as to be moved in one direction when air is drawn in throughits opening, movement of said shuttle means in this direction causingmovement of said shuttle means portion to a position wherein it permitsa missile to pass from said magazine to said support means, and saidshuttle means being moved in the opposite direction by air expelledthrough vance thereof, said rod means being of such.

length and cross-section as toextend into and closely fit the opening insaid shuttle means before said piston reaches the end of its travel inthe direction wherein it expels air from said cylinder, so as to entrapair in said cylinder and cushion the impact of said piston.

HARRY A DOUGLAS.

